. >> reporter: steve is the district attorney for san mateo county. he is antiprop 34. >> there needs to be, in our society, some difference between people who commit more evil murders than others. >> reporter: but, statistics show that the punishment meant for the worst of the worst is not carried out. while california has more than 700 inmates on death row, only 13 have actually been put to death since capitol punishment was written in the constitution in 1972. >> that means the death penalty is a false promis for victims. 99% of the time we have lied to victims when we said we were going to carry out an execution. all we have done is drag them through decades of appeal. >> reporter: costly appeals. some say the state could save $130 million each year with prop 34. but, he says that the factors gumming up the system that puts a stop to all executions since 2006 can be overcome. >> i do believe that if there is the political will, if our leaders will step up and do the right thing and work with everybody on all sides and say let's -- here is what wil